Rosacea. Please help me!! Anyone??

[Sarahlouiseis33]

Hi all,

This is my first post and I'm after advice. I was diagnosed with rosacea in June, symptoms are a fine rash of spots and mild redness over my forehead, nose and inside cheeks. It sounds silly, but it is really upsetting me to the point where I now think of nothing else. (Not good with a 2 year old :-( )
Just wondered if anyone can give me some hope for the future? All I see when I search the Internet are terrible pictures and warnings that it only gets worse.
Please anyone with any experience of this? I feel so alone :-(((

Hi, I have it and I know what you mean about the pics online, my first advice is keep away from google! I have had it for a few years now, and how it looks varies hugely. I use metronidazole prescribed by gp, which I find really good for flare ups, use good sun screen and have found the best foundation is Esther Lauder conceal all, not cheap but so so worth it, and it lasts for ages. It is also better if I avoid alcohol . It is annoying, and I do feel self conscious without make up on, but it can be dealt with and disguised really effectively

Bump, anyone???

Think we crossed posts but wanted to add anyway - have you been prescribed anything?

Thank you so much for replying!! Did you not try antibiotics? I am on some at the moment but feel they are just making me feel depressed. The first lot I tried made my hair shed more too. Rahhhh!!
Can I ask what the metronidazole gel is effective on? Will it help the bumps? I have mainly tiny pimples with redness where these come up, and do you apply it all over or just on the affected areas?
Also what is a flare up to you? I am just so confused by it all ATM.

I have had it for years. I take oxytetracycline tablets and use dermalex rosacea cream. I use Dr Nick Lowe spf15 day cream. Both have helped a lot. I avoid too much alcohol,spicy foods and the sun.

I notice different things work for different people so you may find a lot of products to be trial and error.

Mine has improved a lot, I know what it feels like to be dwelling on it though! Good luck.

I have it mildly and it's helped by using a zinc based cream at night, - although it doesn't get totally rid it really helps calm things down. I just use sudocrem but I know other rosacea sufferers use stronger zinc creams.

I have had it in a fairly mild form for about 2 years now I'd say. Only really did anything about it about 12 months ago.
I also have been prescribed metronidazole and find it does help the redness and general reduction. Alcohol and diet definitely makes mine worse.
Day to day it doesn't bother me THAT much. I'm sort of aware of it but only really when i catch sight of a mirror or I'm in a situation with new people.
You may have to try a few things before you work out what's best. Maybe keep a food/behaviour diary to see if you can spot any triggers. Alcohol? Foods? Sun? Makeup? Skin care?

A flare up for me is when I haven't just got a red looking face (which is always true) but I have the bumps/spots too. They can feel quite irritated, sometimes itchy and my skin feels tight. That's when I use the metron gel, and it usually clears up in a day or two. I would ask your gp for it, or some other topical gel as I have found them much better than anti biotics personally, but its true that different things work for different people. Honestly, I know it's depressing to get a diagnosis but it can get much better.

Thank you maddiemostmerry, oxytetracycline were the first antibiotics I was prescribed that I had a reaction to, sad as they were really helping me. Now on erthyromycin and I don't think they are as effective, however it is still not as red and reactive as when first diagnosed. Can I ask how long you have to take the antibiotics for? Until it completely clears or just subsides a bit? Also do you have the bumpy kind? I seem to have lots of small bumps on my forehead and nose cheek area. Sorry for all the questions.

Hi.

I agree that changing diet is really useful. I too find my triggers are red wine, and sugar. I try my hardest to avoid both.

I have been taking these for a month and seen a difference, my skin is far less reactive.

try taking some ivermectin, it is an insecticide, apparently rosacea might be caused by demodex mites which live in your eyelash follicles crawling over your face in the night and having a poo....
apparently at least fifty per cent of us carry demodex mites, a figure that rises with age. Only the optician can see them.
the only problem is that doctors do not prescribe ivermectin but you might find it on the internet.
I obtained some for scabies by buying a horse wormer but that is not something i could actually recommend.

link

Rosacea can be very bothersome. It's a matter of managing it, like others have said. High spf, hypoallergenic skin products, finding and avoiding triggers.
If its really bothering you, would you consider seeing an expert? Get an appointment with a dermatologist. There is a link between Demodex and rosacea. And may be ordinary acne too. Ivermectin might work, but a dermatologist might prescribe a regime of washing (with smthng like Selsun) and an insecticide like Lyclear. Laser might help too. The good news is there's lots that can be done.

Thank you everyone you are all lovely. Does anyone have the same type as me with tiny bumps more noticeable in bright lights? Like a rash?

Mine is a bit rashy looking, looks worse if I let sun get to me. Hope you are feeling a bit better now, honestly, you can manage this, it's more common than you think! X

I'm afraid it is a case of trying different things to see what helps you as everyone is different.

I know some folk see a real difference after a course of antibiotics but they did absolutely nothing for mine! When I was younger I used to get really bad redness on my nose and chin, plus the pimples. I was really conscious of them and they definitely got worse if I had a drink!

Over the past 5 years my rosacea has really settled down, I still have permanent redness on my nose and a little on my chin but I don't often get the pimples. For me, discovering Bare Minerals make up was a God send. It really covers the redness without looking caked on and doesn't irritate my skin.

A lot of cleansers and moisturisers seem to aggravate it (especially wash off cleanser) so I always try and use products specifically aimed at sensitive skin or rosacea. Mind you, I have spent a fortune over the years on miracle creams, none of which did much if anything!

Diet definitely plays a role, last year I lost nearly 2 stones by exercising and eating healthily and I really noticed a difference in my skin. However, during the exercise I would be even redder! Sunscreen is very helpful too.

Sorry, a bit garbled but just wanted to give you my experience.

Don't have this (bad eczema instead) but I have been told La Roche Posay has a range to help this. Certainly their range for eczema is superb, if £££. Sorry if advising beauty creams trivialises it when others are recommending medicine but, with my eczema, the cicaplast was amazing!

Purple runner, thank you, not many people have mentioned but when the rosacea started my skin started to get Oilier? Is that normal? My skin was always fairly dry before x

No tin legs thank you for that, I am currently using a moisturiser by clinique, the redness solutions one. Trouble is with all the antibiotics I'm not sure what is doing what!! Sigh, oh to have lovely skin (sad)

The gel didn't work for me but a three month course of tablets cleared it up nearly completely! Skin totally smooth now and no itching but still can look a bit red in bright light. Unfortunately I have forgotten what they were!

Also, does anyone notice a link to certain times your monthly cycle? I am sure mine flares then x

Shrinking Nora, do you remember how long it was before you saw an improvement on the tablets and did you have any side effects?

Heard sea buckthorn oil good for it. It has a strong colour so would need to use at night I would guess.